SCARAB BEETLE ANOMALA-ALBOPILOSA-ALBOPILOSA UTILIZES A MORE COMPLEX SEX-PHEROMONE SYSTEM THAN A SIMILAR SPECIES ANOMALA-CUPREA

Four compounds have been identified as sex pheromone constituents of t he scarab beetle Anomala albopilosa albopilosa, namely (R, Z)-5-(-)-(o ct-1-enyl)oxacyclopentan-2-one (buibuilactone), 2-(E)-nonenol, 2-(E)-n onenal, and methyl benzoate (in the ratio 10:3:3:1). The diel rhythm o f pheromone release in A. a. albopilosa showed a peak at the beginning of the scotophase, which is also a peak of mating activity. On the ot her hand, the similar species A. cuprea utilizes a two-constituent sex pheromone, having a common major component, but the pheromone is rele ased both during scoto- and photophase. Temporal difference in mating activity and pheromone release along with chemical diversity seem to f orm the basis for maintaining species specificity in pheromonal commun ication between A. a. albopilosa and A. cuprea.